Top 10 Albums of 2005!
It's that time of year! We reflect, think about what we could have done and think about what we did do. This list reflects what I did do - or listened to - in terms of music. Let me know what your favourite releases of 2005 are!
10. Bell Orchestre - Recording a Tape the Colour of Light
When all the lights of the city fade, Bell Orchestre’s music will be there. Weaving through the streets. Cutting through the fog, shadows and commercial signs of the city. Sparkling in our eyes. They are our voice. We are those who still see the beauty in the world. Hidden in corners, idiosyncrasies, and simplicity. We are those who see why darkness is an absence of colour. The colours will never breathe until we have light. And light is something we create. They realize that when you have so much colour in one place, it seems as though there is an absence of it. The trick is to focus on the details, in every niche. That's where the colour sits. Waiting to be discovered.
MP3: Throw It On a Fire
9. Jana Hunter - Blank Unstaring Heirs of Doom
It’s easy to think that Jana Hunter has made her way into the hearts of freak-folk lovers because of Devendra Banhart. She and Banhart released a split LP together and Blank Unstaring Heirs of Doom is the first release on Banhart’s new label, Gnomongsong. Also, Banhart seems to be the go-to guy for musical recommendations within the freak-folk genre (see: Golden Apples of the Sun). Despite the Banhart connection – and the ever popular anthromorphogenic drawing on her album – Hunter would have likely found her way to ears outside of her native Texas without his aid — even though it probably would have taken a little longer. Her lyrics are thought-provokingly dark and melodies unassumingly simple.
MP3: The New Sane Scramble
8. Caribou - The Milk of Human Kindness
Even though this album is eighth on my list, it’s the last one that I’m reviewing. I saved this one until the end because I really can’t describe why I like it so much. It may have something to do with the fact that Caribou makes electronica sound organic. You know what? That is exactly it! And that is all I’m going to say.
MP3: Hello Hammerheads
7. Final Fantasy - Has a Good Home
The plot line for a video game based on Has a Good Home: A broken family goes their separate ways to search for truth in life while the video game-loving little brother mans the fort, so to speak, and cleans up the rubble. Battling personal demons and left-over negativity with the remaining positivity, the hero attempts to bring the family back together by staying in one place, writing songs, and then attaching the recordings to pigeons who carry them to their lost family members (note: the pigeon reference is solely based on the fact that I love pigeons and has nothing to do with Final Fantasy or any of his songs).
MP3: CN Tower
6. Buck 65 - Secret House Against the World
The first time I heard this album was at a listening station in Sam the Record Man. I wasn’t very impressed. I’ve always liked and respected Buck 65 but never could really get into his music — other than a one month obsession with Square three years ago. I always thought that he was over-hyped just because he was doing something original. Was I ever wrong. I love this album. Every. Single. Song. It is obvious why he notes Burkowski and Johnny Cash as influences — his lyrics are straight to the point and, at times, laced with poetics.
MP3: Kennedy Killed the Hat
5. Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene
There's always an urge to compare artists' new creations to what they've done before. Broken Social Scene's previous release, You Forgot it in People, was simple, affecting and spoke to the teenage boy or girl sitting alone in their suburban bedroom dreaming of a better world. The band's self-titled release of this year uses the same suburban setting but speaks to everyone at the same time. Broken Social Scene's music has moved from suburban bedroom rock to suburban house rock - meandering from the secrets in the basement to the mysteries in the attic and filling everything in between.
MP3: 7/4 (Shoreline)
4. Gang Gang Dance - God’s Money
The title God’s Money sums up the dichotomy found within Gang Gang Dance’s music. It’s music that feels like the universe conspiring between the crotch of your pants and your heart. There is a transcendent, spiritual quality to this album — an individual listening effort as you reflect on a life worth living. But there is also a very tribal, primal quality to it — ethereal, stream-of-consciousness vocals float over the instrumentation that is, at times, weaving through space and then, at other times, locked in corners, trying to beat its way through the walls.
MP3: Nomad for Love (Cannibal)
3. Animal Collective - Feels
It happens all the time. One of your favourite bands releases a new album and they do something completely different. Some fans love it and embrace the band for their departure; others hate it. I’m sure some Animal Collective fans don’t like Feels because it’s their most accessible, pop-friendly release to date. While it’s not a huge departure from Sung Tongs, there are marked differences — namely (and personally speaking) there is more of a wistfulness to Feels whereas Sung Tongs was weighted in its primal, devilish quality. For an artist like Joni Mitchell, for example, I can understand the backlash that emerged because of her strange duet-with-a-bass jazz stuff in the 80's, but you have to embrace the tangents that the Animal Collective pursue.
MP3: Grass
2. CocoRosie - Noah’s Ark
CocoRosie's music maintains, at the base, the simplicity of a bluesy folk song you
know you've heard before but never have. Beyond that, things are more open. Literally. There is so much space found within their songs that it's easy to get lost inside of them. The sister duo does their best to guide the listener through, but still leaves quite an amount of open-endedness. The songs on Noah's Ark are elevated by hip-hop beats, electronica, field recordings, children's toys and vocals that are, at times, operatic and, at others, childlike. The most seductive element of CocoRosie's music is that it's very unaware of itself like a child. It's almost as if everything occurs accidentally. As a result, CocoRosie's music creates a dreamlike world similar to those we remember from our own childhood.
MP3: Noah's Ark
1. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
Out of every single album that was due to be released this year, this was my most anticipated. It also tops my year end list. Maps are poetry and Stevens uses them as a starting point on his states project. Where Michigan – his first states album – focussed more on Stevens personal experiences within the state, Illinois captures the general realities of the state and uses them as a metaphor to critique many United States ideologies. Stevens creates music that both my grandmother and my little brother would like. Some rock star said that if you like music that your family would like then you have bad taste. Fuck him.
MP3: John Wayne Gacy Jr.
Special Mentions: Antony and the Johnsons - I am a Bird Now, Vashti Bunyan - Lookaftering, M.I.A. - Arular, Akron/Family - Akron, Family, voodooEROS - The Enlightened Family, Silver Mt. Zion - Horses in the Sky, Chad VanGaalen - Infiniheart, Sigur Ros - Takk, Castanets - First Light’s Freeze, Six Organs of Admittance - School of the Flower, Mi and L’au - s/t, Patrick Wolf - Wind in the Wires
10. Bell Orchestre - Recording a Tape the Colour of Light
When all the lights of the city fade, Bell Orchestre’s music will be there. Weaving through the streets. Cutting through the fog, shadows and commercial signs of the city. Sparkling in our eyes. They are our voice. We are those who still see the beauty in the world. Hidden in corners, idiosyncrasies, and simplicity. We are those who see why darkness is an absence of colour. The colours will never breathe until we have light. And light is something we create. They realize that when you have so much colour in one place, it seems as though there is an absence of it. The trick is to focus on the details, in every niche. That's where the colour sits. Waiting to be discovered.
MP3: Throw It On a Fire
9. Jana Hunter - Blank Unstaring Heirs of Doom
It’s easy to think that Jana Hunter has made her way into the hearts of freak-folk lovers because of Devendra Banhart. She and Banhart released a split LP together and Blank Unstaring Heirs of Doom is the first release on Banhart’s new label, Gnomongsong. Also, Banhart seems to be the go-to guy for musical recommendations within the freak-folk genre (see: Golden Apples of the Sun). Despite the Banhart connection – and the ever popular anthromorphogenic drawing on her album – Hunter would have likely found her way to ears outside of her native Texas without his aid — even though it probably would have taken a little longer. Her lyrics are thought-provokingly dark and melodies unassumingly simple.
MP3: The New Sane Scramble
8. Caribou - The Milk of Human Kindness
Even though this album is eighth on my list, it’s the last one that I’m reviewing. I saved this one until the end because I really can’t describe why I like it so much. It may have something to do with the fact that Caribou makes electronica sound organic. You know what? That is exactly it! And that is all I’m going to say.
MP3: Hello Hammerheads
7. Final Fantasy - Has a Good Home
The plot line for a video game based on Has a Good Home: A broken family goes their separate ways to search for truth in life while the video game-loving little brother mans the fort, so to speak, and cleans up the rubble. Battling personal demons and left-over negativity with the remaining positivity, the hero attempts to bring the family back together by staying in one place, writing songs, and then attaching the recordings to pigeons who carry them to their lost family members (note: the pigeon reference is solely based on the fact that I love pigeons and has nothing to do with Final Fantasy or any of his songs).
MP3: CN Tower
6. Buck 65 - Secret House Against the World
The first time I heard this album was at a listening station in Sam the Record Man. I wasn’t very impressed. I’ve always liked and respected Buck 65 but never could really get into his music — other than a one month obsession with Square three years ago. I always thought that he was over-hyped just because he was doing something original. Was I ever wrong. I love this album. Every. Single. Song. It is obvious why he notes Burkowski and Johnny Cash as influences — his lyrics are straight to the point and, at times, laced with poetics.
MP3: Kennedy Killed the Hat
5. Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene
There's always an urge to compare artists' new creations to what they've done before. Broken Social Scene's previous release, You Forgot it in People, was simple, affecting and spoke to the teenage boy or girl sitting alone in their suburban bedroom dreaming of a better world. The band's self-titled release of this year uses the same suburban setting but speaks to everyone at the same time. Broken Social Scene's music has moved from suburban bedroom rock to suburban house rock - meandering from the secrets in the basement to the mysteries in the attic and filling everything in between.
MP3: 7/4 (Shoreline)
4. Gang Gang Dance - God’s Money
The title God’s Money sums up the dichotomy found within Gang Gang Dance’s music. It’s music that feels like the universe conspiring between the crotch of your pants and your heart. There is a transcendent, spiritual quality to this album — an individual listening effort as you reflect on a life worth living. But there is also a very tribal, primal quality to it — ethereal, stream-of-consciousness vocals float over the instrumentation that is, at times, weaving through space and then, at other times, locked in corners, trying to beat its way through the walls.
MP3: Nomad for Love (Cannibal)
3. Animal Collective - Feels
It happens all the time. One of your favourite bands releases a new album and they do something completely different. Some fans love it and embrace the band for their departure; others hate it. I’m sure some Animal Collective fans don’t like Feels because it’s their most accessible, pop-friendly release to date. While it’s not a huge departure from Sung Tongs, there are marked differences — namely (and personally speaking) there is more of a wistfulness to Feels whereas Sung Tongs was weighted in its primal, devilish quality. For an artist like Joni Mitchell, for example, I can understand the backlash that emerged because of her strange duet-with-a-bass jazz stuff in the 80's, but you have to embrace the tangents that the Animal Collective pursue.
MP3: Grass
2. CocoRosie - Noah’s Ark
CocoRosie's music maintains, at the base, the simplicity of a bluesy folk song you
know you've heard before but never have. Beyond that, things are more open. Literally. There is so much space found within their songs that it's easy to get lost inside of them. The sister duo does their best to guide the listener through, but still leaves quite an amount of open-endedness. The songs on Noah's Ark are elevated by hip-hop beats, electronica, field recordings, children's toys and vocals that are, at times, operatic and, at others, childlike. The most seductive element of CocoRosie's music is that it's very unaware of itself like a child. It's almost as if everything occurs accidentally. As a result, CocoRosie's music creates a dreamlike world similar to those we remember from our own childhood.
MP3: Noah's Ark
1. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
Out of every single album that was due to be released this year, this was my most anticipated. It also tops my year end list. Maps are poetry and Stevens uses them as a starting point on his states project. Where Michigan – his first states album – focussed more on Stevens personal experiences within the state, Illinois captures the general realities of the state and uses them as a metaphor to critique many United States ideologies. Stevens creates music that both my grandmother and my little brother would like. Some rock star said that if you like music that your family would like then you have bad taste. Fuck him.
MP3: John Wayne Gacy Jr.
Special Mentions: Antony and the Johnsons - I am a Bird Now, Vashti Bunyan - Lookaftering, M.I.A. - Arular, Akron/Family - Akron, Family, voodooEROS - The Enlightened Family, Silver Mt. Zion - Horses in the Sky, Chad VanGaalen - Infiniheart, Sigur Ros - Takk, Castanets - First Light’s Freeze, Six Organs of Admittance - School of the Flower, Mi and L’au - s/t, Patrick Wolf - Wind in the Wires
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